The art of getting ready thin sections has been critical to expertise the core samples that scientists are observing. Thin segment samples permit scientists to look at minerals in rocks, their crystal shape and texture at a microscopic stage.
Want to revise how do geologists examine rock? Follow this hyperlink to see our blog on "Studying Rock".
In this blog, we're taking you into the adventure of thin phase snap shots that were captured and given by means of college students and younger professionals from Finland, Ireland, Denmark, Czech Republic and Plymouth (UK).
Again our purpose is to encourage students and professionals' research by promoting "learning and scope" of Geology through our blogs. Help us to help others in learning and understanding geology. See this link that how you can contribute to Learning Geology.
Note: We are using following thin section photos by having permission from their owners. If you like to use these photos, leave us a message or email ushere.
1. A beautiful heart shaped hornblende in XPL (cross polarized light) view.It is a thin section ofbasalt with some secondary mineralization in the vesicles. Plagioclase is present in the form of black and white matrix and large phenocryst (with some zoning). Alignment of plagioclase grains is indicative of the "flow" of magma.
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| Photo Credits: Astaley |
2. Thin Section of a Biotite and Muscovite, XPL view
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| Photo Courtesy: Laura |
3. Thin Section of a Plagioclase (orthoclase) and Pyroxene, XPL
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| Photo Courtesy: Laura |
4. Eclogite in Thin Section, XPL
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| Photo Courtesy: Laura |
5. Cummulate Rock with Pyroxene and plagioclase, XPL
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| Photo Courtesy: Laura |
6. Blueschist, XPL
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| Photo Courtesy: Laura |
7. Agglomerate in a Thin Section, XPL view
Agglomeratesare pyroclastic igneous rocks that consist almost wholly of angular or rounded lava fragments of varying size and shape. Fragments are usually poorly sorted in a tuffaceous matrix, or appear in lithified volcanic ash. (Britannica.com)
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| Photo Courtesy: Laura |
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| Photo Courtesy: Laura |
nine. Olivine phenocryst in Basaltic Lapilli, XPL
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| Photo Courtesy: Laura |
10. Thin Section of a Gabbro, XPL
Showing minerals; Pyroxene and Olivine, plagioclase and others. Learn more about Gabbrohere.
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| Photo Courtesy: Laura |
11. Another beautiful skinny section of a Gabbro, XPL
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| Photo Courtesy: Laura |
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| Photo Courtesy: Laura |
thirteen. Thin Section showing intrusion of rocks from magma chamber into united states rocks, XPL
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| Photo Courtesy: Jack Lewis Donnelly |
14. Thin Section of a Sillimanite - a mineral discovered in rocks formed with the aid of the metamorphism of a mudstone. (XPL view)
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| Photo Courtesy: Jack Lewis Donnelly |
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| Photo Courtesy: Petr Hyks |
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| Photo Courtesy: Petr Hyks |
See unique photohere
16. Muscovite & biotite (30 µm thin section, PPL and XPL)
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| Photo Courtesy:Petr Hyks |
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| Photo Courtesy:Petr Hyks |
Same photo in XPL view. See unique photohere
17. Quartz and epidote (30 µm thin section, PPL and XPL)
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| Photo Courtesy:Petr Hyks |
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| Photo Courtesy:Petr Hyks |
See originalhere.
18. Olivine (30 µm thin section, PPL and XPL)
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| Photo Courtesy: Petr Hyks |
See this photohere on Petr Hyks' website
19. Zircons in biotite (30 µm thin section, PPL views, showing extinction)
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| Photo Courtesy:Petr Hyks |
See this photo here on Petr's website
20. Zircon in biotite (30 µm thin section, XPL)
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| Photo Courtesy:Petr Hyks |
See this photo here on Petr's website
21. Kyanite surrounded by muscovite (30 µm thin section, PPL and XPL)
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| Photo Courtesy: Petr Hyks |
See these photos on Petr's pagehere and here
22. Zircon crystal in chloritized biotite (30 µm thin section, PPL and XPL)
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| Photo Courtesy:Petr Hyks |
See these photos on Petr's pagehere and here Petr Hyks is 21 year old geology student from Masaryk University in Brno (Czech Republic). He has uploaded 5000+ photos about geology, astronomy and meteorology on his Flickr page. Follow this link to visit his website. Thank you Petr for contributing to Learning Geology and helping others to learn geology through your thin section photos. 🙂 Now following 10 thin section photos are from a geology student of University of Helsinki, Finland.
23. Thin Section of Olivine Diabase in XPL and PPL view.
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| Photo Courtesy: GeoAmethyst |
24. Thin Section of Basalt in XPL view
Having minerals: Olivine (in center) plagioclase, pyroxene and other accessory minerals
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| Photo Courtesy:GeoAmethyst |
25. Thin Section of a Trachyte, XPL view
Trachyte is an igneous volcanic rock with aphanitic to porphyritic texture. It is volcanic equivalent of Syenite. Major or essential minerals are alkali feldspar with less amount of plagioclase, quartz or feldspathiod.
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| Photo Courtesy:GeoAmethyst |
26. Thin Section of a Harzburgite, XPL view
Harzburgite is an ultramafic igneous rock. It chiefly contains plagioclase (under 10%) , olivine, orthopyroxene (enstatite), clinopyroxene (diopside) and biotite. There could be a small amount of talc, carbonate, tremolite, cummingtonite, chlorite, serpentine and titanite.
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| Photo Courtesy:GeoAmethyst |
27. Another thin section of Harzburgite, XPL view
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| Photo Courtesy:GeoAmethyst |
28. Thin Section of Pyroxenite (an ultramafic igneous rock), XPL view
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| Photo Courtesy:GeoAmethyst |
29. Thin Section of Trachyte showing Sandine mineral in center, XPL view
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| Photo Courtesy:GeoAmethyst |
It is an extrusive igneous, of intermediate composition, with aphanitic to porphyritic texture. Here this thin section is showing chiefly hornblende and plagioclase.
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| Photo Courtesy:GeoAmethyst |
31. Thin Section of Alkali Basalt (silica undersaturated) in XPL view.
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| Photo Courtesy:GeoAmethyst |
32. Thin Section showing small clinopyroxene grains within orthopyroxene
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| Photo Courtesy:GeoAmethyst |
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Useful Websites: 1. Polarized light Microscopy (Image Gallery)
2.How to make a thin section
3. Petrographic thin section preparation
4. Guide to Thin Section Microscopy
5. Index of Minerals in Thin Section
6. Optical Petrography website by an Italian Geologist
7.Carbonate Thin Section Images and Exercises
